HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE-II INFECTION PR ESENTING AS AN EXOPHYTIC ENDOBRONCHIAL TUMOR

We report the case of a 52 year-old homosexual AIDS patient suffering from Herpes simplex virus type II infection of the esophagus and the b ronchial system. The chest radiograph revealed a homogenous, well-defi ned consolidation of the right upper lobe. Gastroscopy showed an ulcer of the esophagus and gastritis of the antrum. Bronchoscopically, mark ed necrotizing tracheobronchitis and an exophytic tumour causing compl ete blockage of the apical segment of the right upper lobe were demons trated. Histological examination of the biopsy specimens of the esopha gus and of the bronchus revealed Herpes simplex virus type II infectio n of both organs. The patient was treated by acyclovir for 2 weeks. 6 weeks after the diagnosis of acute Herpes simplex virus type II infect ion had been established, the patient died as a result of a highly mal ignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the cerebellum. Autopsy showed no rem aining endobronchial tumour. Histological examination of the bronchus showed no evidence of viral infection or non Hodgkin's lymphoma. An en dobronchial tumour caused by Herpes simplex virus type II infection ha s not been described up to now.